U.S. sees surge of Cuban rafters

Likelihood of staying outweighs journey’s risk for some

ALON RENINGER
Credit: AP
Three Cubans cling to an overturned raft and life preservers about 15 miles north of Cuba in 1994. The U.S. is now seeing a resurgence of Cubans trying to raft to Florida.

One early morning this April, Dairon Morera climbed onto a raft of aluminum tanks with 22 other people, revved up a Volvo car motor and pushed off the Cuban shore, joining a never-ending stream of islanders desperate to reach the United States.